32 BULLETIN OF THE ESSEX INSTITUTE. 



conclusion that, apart from the Acropolis and its imme- 

 diate surroundings, the actual city of Athens was decid- 

 edly a less interesting place than this city of Salem. It 

 is also a much less comfortable and enjoyable place than 

 Salem. 



But, good as the work of the Essex Institute has been, 

 you all long to make it better; and I, therefore, venture 

 to describe briefly the best means of enlarging the scope 

 and influence of the Institute, and of making valuable to 

 other parts of the country its precious collections. To 

 give the highest value to such collections as the Institute 



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maintains, it is necessary to have learned and skilful men 

 constantly engaged in re-arranging and enlarging the col- 

 lections, and making known their contents by descriptive 

 labels and published memoirs. The most instructive 

 arrangement and the most scientific development can be 

 secured only by the continuous service of experts ; and 

 the Essex Institute needs two such expert curators whose 

 whole time can be devoted to its service. To support 

 them an endowment of $200,000 would be needed. 

 There should also be a fund of at least $50,000 for publi- 

 cation purposes in order that the collections might be 

 made useful, not only to Salem and Essex County, but to 

 the whole country. Such publications would carry the 

 name of the Essex Institute far and wide. I sincerely 

 hope that the suggestion of these endowments on this 

 occasion may bear fruit. 



Such an Institute as this helps to create and foster love 

 of home, of city, and of country. Out of a local affec- 

 tion grows the wider love of country, and out of the 

 early interest in such subjects as those to which the Essex 

 Institute is devoted, habitually fostered in the children of 

 a city like Salem, grows in after life a broad and fruitful 

 interest in intellectual pursuits. These loves and interests 

 are what make life worth living. 



